California Attorney General Kamala Harris takes questions from the media after voting at the Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. The top two candidates for California's first open U.S. Senate seat in 24 years will advance to a runoff election in November to replace the retiring Barbara Boxer. Harris is a heavy favorite and a fellow Democrat, U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, is looking to hold off three Republican challengers for second place.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris opened up a big early lead Tuesday over Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange, in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer.

But Sanchez led Republicans Duf Sundheim, Phil Wyman and Tom Del Beccaro – and the rest of the 34-candidate field – laying the groundwork for what would bea November race between two Democratic women. California’s open primary sends the top two vote-getters to the November ballot regardless of party affiliation.

“We will continue to run a campaign about fighting for our ideals,” Harris told supporters in San Francisco, apparently focusing her comments more on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump than on her likely Senate opponent, Sanchez.

“We reject those people who try to divide. We reject the people who speak this anti-immigrant rhetoric. We understand that our diversity is our strength. We’ve got a lot to do and we know the stakes are high.”

Harris, who is half African American and half East Indian American, would become the only black woman in the Senate. Sanchez, whose parents are Mexican immigrants, would be the first and only Latina.

It is the first open California Senate seat in nearly a quarter century, with Boxer stepping down after 24 years in office. During that time, Democrats’ dominance in the state has grown. Democrats are now 45 percent of the California electorate and Republicans are 27 percent, according to the Secretary of State.

Harris, 51, has been buoyed by greater name recognition statewide, having twice won election to her current post while Sanchez has been more of a local phenomenon since upsetting Republican incumbent Bob Dornan in 1996.

Harris also boasts the endorsement of the California Democratic Party and has outraised Sanchez, $11 million to $3.5 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Not only did Harris have a large early lead statewide, but was running neck and neck in Sanchez’s home territory of Orange County.

Sanchez, 56, sits on the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, and has championed women in combat while fighting against sexual harassment in the military.

But if early results hold, Sanchez will have considerable catching up to do on the campaign trail.

“I’m going to do what I’ve always done,” Sanchez said at her Anaheim Brewery campaign party. “Go out and talk to the people, tell them about my ideas and experience, and ask for them to vote for me. ... I’m the one with the real experience. The experience that matters.”

While Harris has the Democratic establishment backing and is known for her measured demeanor, Sanchez is expected to have the advantage among Latino voters, with a Public Policy Institute of California poll showing her with a 48 percent to 19 percent edge over Harris among that portion of the electorate. Also, Sanchez’s votes against the Iraq war and the Wall Street bailout could resonate with Bernie Sanders supporters.

She’s also seen as more moderate than Harris, which could make her more attractive to Republicans voters who might not see one of their own on November’s ballot for Senate.

Among Republicans who’ve spoken positively about Sanchez in recent months is Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, who co-founded the House Egypt Caucus with her. The two met with Afghan opposition leaders together in 2012.

Former Rep. John Campbell of Irvine has praised her for working across the aisle and said, “She’s pro-business – for a Democrat.”

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